After years of giving special gifts with each club shipment, the Firestone team tried Awtomic’s new feature that allows you to give subscribers the option between multiple gift choices as a reward with the Moments feature. Micaela set up a moment that lets each member pick between a trucker hat and a bucket hat. Within a few hours, more than 70% of the members had jumped in and chosen their gifts. “Adding in that layer of customization for the customer is such a huge win and it’s amazing to do it without complicating operations,” Micaela says. “You don't find that balance very often - usually you’re sacrificing one or the other.” Firestone Walker Brewing Company has been an iconic Brewery and Merchandise brand on the Central Coast of California for almost 30 years, but it wasn’t until the global pandemic hit that they started exploring direct-to-consumer sales online for their beer products. It’s not surprising given how many

These wineries and leaders are setting the standard for innovation, engagement, and operational excellence across our community. Active Participant 🔹 Galen Becker Drace — Arkenstone Estate Winery Continuous Learner 🔹 Angela Walker — Corison Winery Community Champion 🔹 Truman Prewitt — Sculpterra Winery & Vineyards  The Unity Award 🔹 Karen Darling — Bella Vineyards Feedback MVPs 🔹 Adam C. — Somerston Estate 🔹 Marian Kildahl — Imagery Estate Winery  Super Users 🔹 Harry Bagnaschi — Treasury Wine Estates 🔹 Doug M. — The Duckhorn Portfolio 🔹 Jessica Hartin — JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery Early Adopter Excellence 🔹 Far Niente Wine Estates 🔹 Hess Persson Estates  🔹 Laurel Glen Vineyard 🔹 Sangiacomo Family Wines Transformation Champions 🔹 Alyssa Kosan 🔹 Eric Mueller — Antica Terra 🔹 Kevin Jessen — Firstleaf User of the Year 🔹 Rebbecca Ingalls — Crimson Wine Group Congratulations to our 2026 honorees! Lea

The 2025 Barrel Weekend is all about tasting wines from the past, present and future. This annual weekend event has been reimagined for its 47th anniversary, letting the wineries along the Wine Road focus on more than just tasting wines from the barrel. And, giving tasters new opportunities for exploring and learning about wine. More Tasting Options With wineries pouring wines from past (library wines), present (current release wines) and future (barrel samples), attendees have more choices and can choose what they most enjoy or what they seeking to restock their wine cellars. As you look through the online Barrel Weekend program, you’ll discover wineries pouring wines from one, two or all three of the category options. This information lets you, the ticket holder, design the tasting path that suits your palate preferences. If you love tasting only barrel samples and possibly buying wine futures, you can still do that. But, if you prefer to taste wines that are currently availabl

In the 1880s, Pierce’s disease caused a devastating, total collapse of the Southern California grapevine industry. Today, growers have hope for the future thanks to new varieties. Adam Tolmach, owner of Ojai Vineyard, planted four of these new varieties as a field trial on a plot of land where Pierce's disease wiped out his grapes in 1995.  Pierce’s disease is a bacterium spread by insects, typically a sharpshooter. One bite and the vine dies within two to three years. To develop resistant varieties, Andy Walker of the University of California at Davis crossed the European grape Vitis vinifera with Vitis arizonica. 20 years later, commercial growers have access to three red and two white varieties. Listen in to learn how Tolmach’s experiment is a success both in the vineyard and with customers. Plus get tasting notes for the new varieties. LISTEN IN Resources:         REGISTER: The Ins & Outs of Developing a New Vineyard Site 89: New

Join us on July 11 for a Lunch Roundtable with experts from Moss Adams and Silicon Valley Bank for a Wine Industry Update and Tools for Success. During this in-person program we’ll discuss the following topics: The recent Silicon Valley Bank direct-to-consumer wine industry survey results The top three things to consider as you navigate state and local taxes that impact business profitability and tax liabilities How Barrel ERP for wine can create greater efficiencies in your winery operations July 11, 2023 - Agenda: 11 AM: Welcome and registration 11:30 AM–1 PM: Presentation 1 PM–1:30 PM: Networking Register Now Speakers Bill Vyenielo, Senior Wine, Beer & Spirits Business Consultant, Moss Adams Michael Parker, Partner in Charge, Moss Adams Benjamin Alderton, Senior Manager, Moss Adams Adam DeZego, CPA, Senior Manager, Moss Adams Rob McMillan, Executive Vice President & Wine Division Founder, Silicon Valley Bank Rob Walker, Central Coast Market Manager, Silicon

Activ8’s Member-Centric Point-of-Sale Brings More New Features for Ultimate In-Person Experience In an industry where experience is everything, you must be able to serve your customers and club members meaningfully in that face-to-face environment. That is why Activ8 has added several key new features to help your staff.  We are excited to now offer a choice between picture and text item buttons to help your staff serve efficiently.  Our enhanced best-in-class rewards and gift card system now works seamlessly across all our platforms, Tasting Room, Club and eCommerce so there are no gaps in the customer experience.  Speaking of the staff to customer interface, we have created multiple layers of Customer History/Data that is readily available for your staff on our newest version to help them know the customer better and grow sales.  Data can drive decisions for management and staff and that is also why we have added accessibility to your KPI's straight on t

Afternoon Brief, September 2nd

Wind Change Saves Wineries from Fire: Wildfire flames might have bypassed vineyards in California's El Dorado County, but smoke taint remains a risk...

M.S. Walker Named Exclusive Distributor for New Zealand’s Mt. Beautiful in New York & New Jersey 

Producer Consolidates Distribution as Both Mt. Beautiful & Amisfield are Already Part of M.S. Walker’s Portfolio in MA & RI NEW YORK – August 31, 2021 – Effective September 1st, M.S. Walker has been named the exclusive distributor of New Zealand producer Mt. Beautiful in New York and New Jersey. Mt. Beautiful’s national importer, Mt. […]